There has also been a fivefold increase in the number of patients (about 700 each month) with suspected cancer waiting 13 weeks or more.

A study by NHS England also found 10 per cent of hospitals breached the 62-day target for urgent cancer treatment. This meant 15 per cent of cancer patients waited more than two months for their vital treatment to begin.

Numerous cases in which hospitals failed to reach the 62-day target were uncovered in two reports by the NHS regulator Monitor. The problem was blamed on overstretched A&E departments and shortages of beds and equipment.

Norman Pascall, 81, died three months ago of prostate cancer which had spread to other organs after waiting six months for an operation.

Mr Pascall, of Romford, Essex, who served in the Second World War, was diagnosed with cancer last February. However the former haulage company boss, who was treated at Queen’s Hospital in Romford, did not have an operation to remove the cancer until August.

Surgery was originally scheduled for July but he was told, as he was on his way to the operating theatre, that it was cancelled because no surgeon was available. His nephew, David Horwood, 50, of Cambridge, said: “We are very concerned about the fact the hospital failed to act quickly on his deadly condition.

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A study by Cancer Research UK shows cities in the North of England have some of the lowest survival rates for the disease

“We were told surgery would give him extra years but he never recovered from the operation, which was so long after his diagnosis. We were told it was serious and he needed immediate treatment. We don’t understand why this didn’t happen.

“Norman was a man who never made a fuss and accepted things but we, his family, want to make sure this does not happen to anyone else.” A spokeswoman for Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust said Mr Pascall’s operation was cancelled due to a shortage of intensive care beds but rebooked “as soon as possible”. She added: “We would be happy to meet Mr Pascall’s family to discuss any concerns they have.”

A study by Cancer Research UK shows cities in the North of England have some of the lowest survival rates for the disease. The greater Glasgow area had the highest rate of cancer deaths while Shetland had the lowest.

Harrow, Richmond and Surrey performed better than areas further north, such as Stoke, Hartlepool and Nottingham. An NHS England spokeswoman said: “Being diagnosed with cancer is life-changing and it is vital patients can access treatment quickly and easily so they have the best chance of recovery. We know there is local variation and more work to be done to make sure our cancer services are world class and all NHS patients receive the best treatment available.

“We expect clinical commissioning groups and area teams to work closely with their local providers where the operational standards are not being met.”